CHAPTER TWO

Period of Trial and Hope: 1957-1965

The decline of British and French power in the Middle East after
the Suez Crisis created a "power vacuum" in that region and pro-
vided the Soviet Union with an excellent opportunity for pene-
tration. The Soviet Union, as a matter of fact, emerged as a do-
minant power in the Middle East after the Suez Crisis and it was*
believed that she would attempt to expand her foothold in the
Arab countries with a view to eventually bringing the entire area
under its influence. The United States was compelled to take note
of this grave danger in view of her strategic and economic stake
in that area.1 She deemed it to be her responsibility to deter the
Soviet Union from possible aggression and also to prevent sub-
versive activities on its part in the countries of the Middle East.
What was needed, under the circumstances, was a declaration in-
forming the Kremlin that the U.S. government was ready and
willing to oppose by military might any Soviet attempt to pene-
trate in that region.
THE EISENHOWER DOCTRINE
With this end in view, President Eisenhower addressed a joint
i U.S. Department of State, United State? Policy in the Middle East,
September 1956-June 1957, Washington, D.C., 1957, pp. 419-20.
45